Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from the Coker family in Columbia, South Carolina!

I did some reading today on the orgins of Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Thanksgiving Day began as a tradition at the end of the harvest season to express thanks for one's material possessions and spiritual blessings.

The first recorded Thanksgiving ceremony took place on September 8, 1565, when 600 Spanish settlers, under the leadership of explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed at St. Augustine, Florida, and immediately held a Mass of Thanksgiving (with a feast and celebration) for safe delivery to the New World. Of course, the Pilgrims had Thanksgiving observances in Plymouth, Massachusetts in the early 1600s. As President, on October 3, 1789, George Washington made a proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America.  Thanksgiving Day has been a holiday in the United States since 1863.

The History of Thanksgiving: The History Channel

Click here to read more on the orgins of Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

Mel Coker

Columbia, SC
http://www.melcoker.com/

Coming Soon: More Video for Columbia, SC Real Estate

Coming Soon:  More real estate video related to Columbia, SC real estate



Featured videos soon to be in production:  Buying tips, Selling Tips, Community information, Home tours, mortgage information, local service providers, Lake Murray information, Fort Jackson information.

It will all appear on my WellcomeMat webpage.  WellcomeMat.com IS the place for real estate video (the real estate version of YouTube).


Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC
Internet

BUY NOW! It's the Smart Choice.

It's a GREAT time to buy a home in the Greater Columbia area.  I can assist you with homes in: downtown Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, Lake Murray, Blythewood and Northeast Columbia.

When you're ready to BUY a home, contact MEL COKER:

email

Internet

Telephone: (803) 388-8011

Christmas Shopping: Vol. 2

BLACK FRIDAY starts early at Amazon.com

CLICK HERE to shop at Amazon.com

Starts Monday, November 22nd - new deals all day through November 27th.
Amazon.com is the world's largest store!  I shop here regularly for great prices, great selections and helpful customer reviews on products.   Plus free shipping is sometimes available and delivery is fast.

CLICK HERE to shop at Amazon.com

Christmas Shopping: Vol. 1

GREAT Buys at Drugstore.com!   Many orders qualify for FREE Shipping, PLUS $5 OFF on your first order of just $25 (limited time offer).
I buy here.   Try it and you will be pleased with great prices and fast shipping.

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - Still Available for Military

Home Buyer Tax Credit Still Available for Military Personnel (Under certain circumstances)
The Home Buyer tax credit expired back on April 30, 2010.  HOWEVER,  for qualified service members who are ordered on a period of official extended duty, these dates are extended. For these home buyers, the tax credit applies to sales with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011.

Additionally, qualified service members who sell or move from a tax credit home within three years of the initial purchase due to official extended duty are exempt from the recapture rule.  (Typically, homes that are sold or that cease to be used as a principal residence within three years of the initial purchase are subject to recapture of the tax credit.)
 
CLICK HERE to read the rules
 
To buy your home in Greater Columbia, South Carolina, please be sure to contact Mel Coker.  I know the rules!   And, I offer FREE and professional buyer representation.   I also assist you with the mortgage process, home inspections and all aspects of closing.  NOW is the time to buy with an excellent selection of homes in the Columbia area and historically low mortgage interest rates.   I have excellent referrals for VA loans.  I sell homes in Northeast Columbia (near Fort Jackson), Southeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Chapin and at Lake Murray.
 
To BUY your home in Columbia, SC, contact Mel Coker:
Internet: Columbia Real Estate
email
Office Telephone: (803) 223-6214
 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Mel Coker
Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-Pro
Columbia's exclusive CyberStar Realtor!
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Each office is independently owned and operated

Veterans Day: 2010

A Salute to Veterans from Mel Coker, Columbia, SC Realtor!

This federal holiday was initially known as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11, 1917. The holiday officially began in 1926 and in 1954 the holiday name was changed to Veterans Day.

History of Veterans Day website

Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to United States national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. PLEASE BE SURE TO THANK A VETERAN FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!

I've created a webpage with information for the Columbia, SC Veterans Day parade and to honor our veterans. Please check the page out as it contains other information such as: Veterans Day links, pictures from our Memorial Park in Columbia, SC and the name of America's most decorated soldier from ANY international/foreign war (HINT: it's not Alvin York or Audie Murphy and he WAS born in South Carolina!).

CLICK HERE for the Veterans Day website from Mel Coker
 

Click Here for: Military in South Carolina

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."
– George Washington
General and Commander-in-Chief & First President of the United States of America



Columbia, SC Vietnam Memorial

Considering a Home Purchase? In Greater Columbia, Call Mel Coker

NOW is the time to BUY a home in Columbia!
I sell Columbia, Fort Jackson area, Chapin, Irmo, Lake Murray, Lexington, West Columbia.
When you're ready to BUY, contact Mel Coker:
Google Voice Number: (803) 388-8011
email:  melcoker at remax.net
Internet:  Columbia, SC Real Estate



32 Homes SOLD in 2010!  I'm ready to assist you NOW.  Please call or email Mel Coker.

Back from Mexico (Cancun & Tulum)

Cancun / Tulum, Mexico
Barbara and I just returned from our 16th trip to Mexico.  We had a great time (again)!

CLICK HERE for my Cancun/Tulum Music Video

For our 16th trip to Cancun, we booked this time at Me Cancun by Melia.  But, I made a change to our booked itinerary.   After booking our Cancun hotel, I decided to book nights down at Tulum, Mexico.  I initially booked 3 nights at Cabanas Tulum.   However, we had so much fun in Tulum, we decided to stay an extra night.  So, we stayed in Cancun for 2 nights, drove our rental car down to Tulum (2 hours South) for a 4 night stay and then returned to Cancun for 2 more nights.

The highlight our our trip was our time in Tulum.  Tulum is definitely much different from Cancun.   Cabanas Tulum "hotel" was a great place to stay and all of the restaurants we visited were great too.  Also, we visited Tulum Pueblo (the town) and a cenote for the first time.  On the way back to Cancun, we stopped off in Puerto Morelos for a brief visit and dinner.

When you're ready to visit Cancun, Tulum or the Rivera Maya, contact me by email for suggestions and tips.
Mel's Cancun webpage

Tulum Resources:
Tulum Bulletin Board
Tulum Maps
Tulum - TripAdvisor
Cabanas Tulum

Mel